Translating device



Sept i6, 1929 M. E. MAcKsoUD TBANSLATING DEVICE Filed July 3, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Attorney Sept 10, 1929. M. E. MAcKsGUD TRANSLTING DEVICE Filed July 5, 1926 2 SheebS-Sheet 2 Attorney Patented Sept. 10, 1929.

UNITED f STATES PATENT oFFICE.

MICHEL E. MACKSOUI), OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A SSIGNOB '.lO ELECTRON lCORPORATION,

OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY., A

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

TRANSLATING' DEVICE.

Application med .Tuiy a, 192e. serial No. 120,375.'

This invention relates to variable current translating devices and particularly to a new design of electron discharge tubes containing four electrodes.

The prior art as is well known, provides electron discharge devices having three elements including a cathode, grid and anode, and in which the cathode is usually in the form of an electrically energized filament which upon energization becomes incandescent andthrough suitable treatment such as thoriation is caused to emitan electron How traveling toward the plate of the device, and thru. this operation tubes of this three element type are in general use for transmittingand receiving radiant energy as well as for other purposes now well known.

This invention comprehends the improvements of devices of this character by providing a tube construction having four elements instead ofthree and in which two of'the elements form the principal features of this invention and replace the incandescent thoriatedv cathode now generally used,

ln providing this new construction, this invention improves the operation of these electroni discharge devices Without` losing any of the advantageous results produced thereby but on the other hand increasing the efficiency of operation and providing new functions and applications for the tubes so as to provide a double simultaneous operation tin the tubel in'which each is independent of the other, and in which the results produced by the double function may be ultimately utilized in combination as set forth in my copending application, iled simultaneously herewith and bearing the next successive serial number hereto Serial No. 120,376, filed July e, 192e.

rl`his invention further comprehends the provision of a four element electron discharge device which is suitably adapted for operation from the usual power circuit used for city lighting purposes whether director alternating current, and in which the effects of the alternating current through the special construction and cooperation of the electrodes of the tube are prevented from having undesirable or disadvantageous effects in the operation of the radiant energy recelving or transmitting apparatus, but on the other hand, cooperates to produce a greater etiiciency of operation of this apparatus. A. further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a four e1ement tube specially adapted for use withv radiant energy receiving and transmitting systems inv which a source of variable power may be used to insure the operation of the device in which two of theelements cooperate to rectify a portion of the power consumed in the operation of the device to produce potentials suitable for application in the" plate circuit of the system for the purpose of eliminating the necessity for more than one sourceo power supply, and in which any available source of power supply is adapted for use in operation of the system.

The invention further comprehends numerous structural advantages to provide a translating device .of the character mentioned and vwith the above and numerous other objects in view a more complete and full understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description, and claims directed to the preferred construction ofthe device, it being understood, however, that various changes in the relation and construction oi the parts and the method of operation may be made which are clearly within the scope of the invention as herein set forth.

In the drawings forming part of this application Figure l is an enlarged longitudinal section through a structure embodying the elements of this invention. i

Fig. 2 is an'enlarged detail section through .the cathode and heating electrode structure of alternating cxirrent may be simultaneously or independently rectified together with the provision of suitable means for absorbing or limiting as well as preventing the formation of any possible magnetic field around the heating electrode that may be present.

1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively, indicate the four electrodes or essential elements of the improved translating device forming the subject matter of this invention and which are hereafter referred to as a filament or heating means, a cathode or electronemitting electrode, grid and plate or anode, respectively.

The heating means or electrode 1 is formed as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of a suitable wire 5 wound in helical form on a suitable cylinder 6 in a pair of sections 7 and 8 having one section provided with the helical winding in reversely wound relation to the other section, so as to neutralize inductive effects for the purpose of producing a non-inductive heating electrode within the envelope or tube 9. The cylinder '6 is formed with reversely extending helical grooves 10 to receive the reversely wound sections 7 and 8 of the heating electrode 5. These sections 7 and 8 are spaced in the central portion from each other and in which the cylinder 6 is formed with a portion vof enlarged diameter having a threaded yperiphery 11I for threadedly receiving the supporting collar 12 of suitable insulating material.

The free ends of the cylinders 6 are threaded as indicated at 13 to receive the supporting collars 14 at opposite ends, while the central portion of the cylinder is p1o-.

vided with an axial bore 15 to provide a conduit for one of the circuit wires 16 connecting the opposite terminals ofthe filament with a suitable source of power supply or power supply circuit.

The collars 12 and 14 are formedin their opposed faces with annual recesses 17 in concentric relation to the cylinder G and which receive the metallic sleeves 18 coated on the exterior surface with suitable electron emitting material indicated at 19. These sleeves 18 form the cathode 2 or elecltron emitting surfaces as above set forth.

The coating on the tubes 18 which are preferably formed of nickel or some other similar material, is provided with a composil tion of one of the alkaline earth oxides which are known to be highly emittive of electrons under low degrees of heat, while any other electron emitting substance may be used where found desirable. The tube 6 may be made of alundum, crystolon or a silicate in the form of a solid cylinder with a central bore or of suitable tubing, several forms of which are already on the market and in common use for various purposes and where desired are provided with threaded or grooved surfaces. The collars 14 are of central collar 12 is provided with a metallic cap of annual form aspindicated at 20 to form a shield for the central portion of the heating element 1 for magnetic field of the heating element, as well as a terminal for a discharge circuit which may be utilized for discharging static or other undesirable currents or osclllations,

This assembly of parts includino' the cylinder 6 and the heating and cathode elements 1 and 2 respectively when assembled as shown in Fig. 2, are suitably supported in the envelope or tube 9 through the mounting of the lower cap collar 14 in the Supporting ring 21 carried by the arms 22 secured to the supporting clamps 23 suitabl mounted on the stem 24 formed integral wit the envelope 9 in the finished structure of this translating device. A pair of circuit connections 25 and 26'eXtend from the cvlinders or tubes 18 forming the cathodeu elements through the stem 24 so that each sleeve may be independently connected in suitable electrical circuits for purposes which Will be described.

The construction of the stem 24 and the -method and manner of extendin the circuit connections to the elements of the tubes through the stem are made in accordance with the well known ractice in the art in the construction of t iis tube and further description thereof is therefore not believed to be necessary. c

An important 'feature of this tube construction is that a pair of stems are used including the second stem 27 lwhich is alined in the form shown in' Fig. 1 of the drawings with the stem 24, and at the opposite end of the envelope 9. This stem serves to support the grid and plate or anode element 3 and 4 respectively of the device in the proper associated relation with the cathodes 2, and these grid and anode elements may be constructed in any manner found desirable as at present known to the art to secure the desired functioning of the tube in translating systems already well known in the art. This second stem structure 27 permits the extension of the leads or circuit wires 28 and 29 from thegrid and anode respectively outwardly through the envelope 9 for connection with exterior circuits in any desired manner and in order to eliminate the necessity of shielding these conductors from the conductors for the elements 1 of the tube to prevent mutual-inductance between the leads or wires passing through the tube when alternating current is used for operating the heating element 1, so that the induction of interfering currents and reproduction of the sounds generated thereby is lessened or prevented in radiant energy amplifymg systems.

The heating element 1 may or may not be electron emitting, but for the full functioning ofthe tube 1s preferably electron emitting and in which it will be understood that the electron flow from the heatin element 1 is toward the cathode 2 while t e electron flow from the cathode is outwardly therefrom to the anode 4 from which it will be readily apparent that the electron flow from both the heating electrode and the cathode are in the same direction. n

In this connection, it will be readily appreciated that the electron flow from the heating electrode 1 has its field limited by the metallic sleeves 18 which receive and absorb the electrons and in this connection function as an anode in conjunction with the electrode 1 so that the electron flow from electrode 1 may be utilized to rectify the current in the circuit including this heating element. This is obtained through associating the terminals of this circuit with suitable connections having electrical connection with the sleeves 18. Any suitable circuit may be used in cooperation with this heating electrode and the cathode 2 such as is well known in the art for rectifying oscillating or varying electric current in which this cathode will function as an anode in cooperation with the heating element ,1.

In the operation of this tube to function in this manner and in all manners, the heat of the element 1 is transmitted to the sleeves or cylinders 18 by radiation and the electron ow or the travel of ions between the element 1 and the element 2 so that the sleeves 18 are heated to a suitable temperature with the coating 19 and at this temperature, this coating will produce the electron flow from the cathode 2 as a result of the action .of this coating.

This cathode 2 functions as the cathode element within the envelope 9 for electrical cooperation with the grid and plate 3 and L1 respectively. As a result, suitable translating systems or amplifying systems may be associated with the cathode2, the grid 3,`and anode e and the well lmown function of these elements obtained in said system.

At thisl point it is desired to clearly point out that in the operation of the tube' the cathode 2 will simultaneously function in conjunction with the grid 3 and the anode 4 independently of its function as an anode in conjunction with the electronic emission from and with the heating element 1 to rectify the oscillating currents in the circuit to said heating' elements, and said cathode. In addition to this function, the' construction of the lelement 2 or bothl may be varied within desired limits in order to provide a half wave rectifier or a full wave rectifier.

in Fig. 1, functions as a full wave rectifier when the two sleeves 18 are connected in independent circuits in any well known manner to obtain the proper association with the circuit 16 to the element 1 for full wave rectification purposes.

For a further understandin of this fea.- ture, reference is made to ig. 3 of the drawing, showing what may be said to be the reverse ofthe structure shown in Fig. 1 in which the element 1 is constructed in two independent but reversely wound coils 30 and 31 having independent circuit connections 32 and 33 res ectively, while the cathode element 2 is ormed of a single sleeve 34coextensive with the extent of the sections'30 and 31 of the electrode 1 forming a half wave rectifier instead of the full wave rectifier as in Fig..1. In this construction the cathode 2 is vheated to electron emitting condition by the two lament 'sections 30 and 31 which when energized, are

heated to incandescence so that the cathode functions in the usual manner in the assembled tube structure as set forth above.

In Fig. 4, the filament or element 1 is constructed in independent windings 35 and 36 with independent leads as shown and set forth in Fig. 3, and above described, and L the cathode element 2 is formed in two sections 37 and 38 which are axially alined and concentric to the element 1 in order that a full wave rectier may be provided with a separate "reversely wound element l. This construction may be desirable for suitable operation of the tube where each ,rectified half wave is used independently of the other and the cathode element 2 is still used as a single electron emitting terminal in conjunction with a grid and plate as above set forth.

`As has been heretofore described in conuection with Fig. 1 of the drawing, the

cathode element 2 forms a shield for the' heating element 1 to prevent the magnetic field or oscillation as a result of using alterhating current to energize the element 1 to prevent any magnetic field or lines of force or the iiow of electrons from the element 1 beyond the zone of the cathode, in order to prevent transmission of undesired energy to the remaining elements of the tube structure and in order to increase the protection or shielding of the element 1 in this manner, the structure shown in Fig. 5 is provided. This structure includes a heating element 1 constructed as shown in Fig. 1,.and a pair of concentric electron emitting electrodes 39 and 110 respectively in which the element 40 forms the cathode 2 of a structure embodying the grid and anode elements in cooperation therewith. The thermionic action in a' In this connection, the construction shown will be heated suiiicientlyf to produce an electron emission from the coatings on the outer surfaces of each. This double shielding of the element 1 provides an eiiicient protection against interference or undesired .current from the heating element l, while the sleeves 39 and 40 may be connected with independent circuits associated with the circuit to the element 1 for suitable cooperation to rectify alternating or oscillating current through the electron fiow between element l and sleeve 39 and the electron iiow from the element 39 to element 40 which is in the same direction in each case.

Fig. V6 illustrates a construction wherein a pair of heating coil sections-41 and'42 are mounted in concentric relation and have their convolutions wound in reverse directions so that the magneticfield of one section will neutralize that of the other, while a suitable tubular element 43 encloses the section 41 and is positioned within the secv tion 42. The cathode is indicated at 44 and as heretofore stated, is provided with the electron emitting coating. This cathode is .concentrically disposed over the section 42 of the heating element and may be used for current rectifying purposes if desired, 1n conjunction with either or both ofthe Sections of the heating element indicated at 41 and 42 in any .desired manner.

Fig. 7 illustrates a structure wherein the heating element 1 is constructed similar to that shown in Fig. l with a pair of concentric axiallyralined sleeves 45 and 46 respectively disposed over this heating element and in spaced relation thereto which may be utilized in cooperation with the heatingelement to form the current rectifier, in a man- .ner as heretofore clearly set forth. The

cathode as a rectifier for the current or a portion of the current in the power supply circuit.

Fig. 8 illustrates a construction in which the heating element 1 is constructed as shown in Fig. 1, while the cathode element 2 includes a sleeve 48 coextensive with the element 1 and formed to receive a cap 49 on one end while the opposite end, and preferably that attached to the stem is formed with an outwardly annular` extending flange 50. This cap and fiange 5() is provided for further neutralizing any tendency of formation or flow of magnetic lines of force or electrons beyond the zone of the cathode 2 in order to guard against transmission of energy between the element 1 and electrodes 3 and 4, where the structure is used for a double function as a current rectifier of the power current and in conjunction with a translating system.

It is to be understood in the application of this invention that the envelope or tube 9 may be either evacuated to a high degree in a manner well known in the art or it may be gas filled with any of the various gaseous formations known to the art for obtaining the operating advantages of the tube under either type of construction, and where the gas is a conductor such as mercury vapor, neon, argon, krypton, or any other suitable conductive gas has been found more desirable to utilize a construction of the heating means laud the cathode 2 as illustrated for example in Fig. 9, in which a pair of flat plate elements 51 and 5,2 are mounted in spaced parallel relation in a suitable insulating supporting member 53 and covered by the sleeve 54 forming the element 2 or cathode of the struct-ure which is suitably coated so that it willbe `electron. emitting'when heated to the proper temperature. l

In this construction, the application of alternating current to the plates 51 and 52 with the opposite terminal of the circuit connected to each plate, it will be understood that the action of the plates as a capacity will .maintain a charge thereon sufficient to produce a heating effect in conjunction with the flow of current provided for by the conductivity of the ions of the gas between the plates. This heat will be transmitted to the cathode 2 so that it will be heated to electron emitting temperature, and in which this cathode will still form the shield for preventing undesirable effects in the circuits associated therewith operating independently of the heating element while this cathode still functions in conjunction with the heating element as a current rectifier for the power from the circuit connected with the plates 51 and 52 which may be utilized in any desired manner such as is set forth in the co-pending application above mentioned.

-From the foregoing description, it will therefore be clearly understood that this invention provides a new development in the art in which four elements are used in the tube construction, two of said elements being electron emitting and having the electron emission flowing in the same direction. One electron emitting element forms a terminus for the electrons emitted from the other, while one of these electron emitting elements cooperates withthe other to form a current rectifier in which operation it functions as an anode while the same electrode also functions as a cathode for cooperation ina well known manner with the two remaining electrodes in .the tube structure. It

. cylinder,

is therefore clear that a translating device has been provided by this invention which,

while designed for use on the usual house lighting or power circuit provlded 1n c1t1es and similar locations, for general use, will efliciently function in a well known manner in radient energy systems and in addition provide rectified current for impressing the various potentials required in the circuits of these systems, may also be applied to va-- evacuated envelope, a cylinder, a plurality of collars mounted on said cylinder, a heating element mounted on said cylinder, means supporting the cylinder in the envelope, and a cathode element formed of a plurality of sleeves mounted on said collars in spaced relation to said cylinder.

2. A translating device, comprising an evacuated envelope, a heating element, a straight supporting member mounted in said envelope supporting said heating element, collars mounted on said supporting member at each end and at the center, and cathode sleeves mounted on said collars and enclosing said heating element.

2in-Iny a translating device, an evacuated envelope, a cylinder mounted within said envelope, a heating element non-inductively wound on said cylinder, spaced collars mounted upon said cylinder, concentric cylinders mounted between said collars and means for supporting said first mentioned cylinder.

4. In a translating device, an evacuated envelope, a cylinder mounted within said envelope, an emittivc non-inductive heating means on said cylinder, collars secured upon the ends and at the center of said cylinder, coated cylinders supported concentrically upon the/,first cylinder, and between the end and center collars and a metallic shield disposed upon the center collar.

5. A translating device comprising an evacuated envelope, a cylinder, a length of wire non-inductively wound on said cylinder, said wire being emittive and acting as a. cathode of a rectifier, spaced supports on said multiple concentric electrodes forming the anode of a rectifier mounted upon said supports, said multiple concentric f electrodes forming the common cathode of the translating device, and a grid and a plate i 

